Mangifera

This is a group of tropical trees native to North India, Burma, and Malaya. M. indica is commonly known in the United States as the Mango. This tree can grow up to 90 feet and have a spread of 120 feet or more. It is widely grown in the tropics for its delicious fruit. In the U.S. it's grown outdoors in southern Florida and the warmest parts of California. Young plants can be grown indoors as houseplants. Their foliage is dark green and shiny. When new leaves unfold, they are a rich brownish-red color.

POTTING-Outdoors: Mangoes may be grown on several different types of soil. Mangoes should be spaced at least 30-35 feet between each other, although, at such close spacing pruning will be necessary to keep them from interfering with each others growth. Before planting them, it's wise to mix in a generous amount of compost or decayed manure into the soil. After planting, the soil surface should be kept mulched through the early years of growth. For the first five years or so after planting, fertilizer should be applied from time to time to encourage strong shoot and leaf growth and the trees need plenty of moisture during the growing season. Once they have reached a pretty good size, less effort should be made to encourage vegetative growth because that will impair fruit bearing.
As houseplants: Mangoes should be planted in pots with great drainage and filled with sandy, fertile soil. They enjoy temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees. They need good light but not necessarily direct sunlight. The soil should always be kept moist but not saturated. Plants that have filled up their pots with healthy roots will benefit if given dilute liquid fertilizer every week or two. Repotting, if necessary, should be done in the spring.

PROPAGATION-Outdoors: Fresh seeds of Mangoes, preferably planted in sterile soil, germinate irregularly in about 3 weeks. If the endocarp (husk) is removed first they'll sprout more quickly. Seeds that are allowed to dry usually fail to germinate. Seedling trees are usually less desirable than trees of named varieties. Named varieties are propagated by air layering, inarching and, more frequently, by budding or grafting on seedling stocks.
As houseplants: Seeds taken from fresh fruits can be planted immediately in pots with their tips just showing above the surface of the sandy, fertile soil. If the soil is kept moist in a temperature of about 70 degrees, they'll soon germinate.

Mangifera indica

VARIETIES

Mangifera indica (Mango). Different varieties of the Mango are: Edward, Fascel, Kent, Jill, Julie, Whitney and Brooks.